2018 RB Rankings (updated 8/30)

Posted on August 1, 2018

This is my opening salvo on the 2018 running backs, but keep your eyes on this space because it will be updated often—with more player blurbs and a rankings update coming next week. I have the top 75 backs ranked here, but that number will expand to 100 in the next update.

As has been the case for several seasons, I like to think of the backs belonging several groups—the elite, the very good, the functional, the rosterable and free agents.These classifications will come into much better focus as we move through August.I’ll get much more detailed on this when I post my Tiered RB Rankings over at WEEI.COM.

The running backs have risen up draft boards this year and I understand why.Is it all merited?Not really.It certainly is near the top, but I also see a lot of committee backs going a bit earlier than I want to spend—possibly due to what the Saints were able to accomplish last season.I’ll be offering my suggestions as to how to we should negotiate the position in the coming weeks and I’ll also be bringing back my 32 Backfields pod, which I am pretty geeked for.

I’ll be away this weekend as I travel to Boston for the Beantown Brawl draft at WEEI Headquarters, which features some industry sharks like Pat Thorman, Kevin O’Brien (The FF Engineer), Jim Hackett and Leo Paciga among others.I lost in the bowl game last year and I want to go the distance this time.It’s not going to be easy with so many sharks competing.

I’ll be digging into these rankings as soon as I get back.It’s going to be a typical August here at Rotobahn, and I could not be happier to be back!Welcome home, folks.

RBRanks8-30-18

Rank

PLAYER

Team

BYE

The Skinny

1

Todd Gurley

LAR

12

He’s a very safe option as he’s healthy and he’s returning to the same scheme run by the same people with the same quarterback under which he has such great success in 2017. He’s the consensus number one pick in most scoring formats, and I have no problem if you choose to go that way. Gurley is a fantasy monster.

2

David Johnson

ARI

9

It should be all systems go for the star runner who also plays like a wide receiver. Johnson has the most diverse skill set of any RB in the NFL to date. Maybe Saquon Barkley joins the club soon, but DJ is truly special. The good news is that he’s returning from a non-leg injury. The bad news is that Bruce Arians retired. That’s bad no matter how you slice it. Arians may not have been perfect but he got the most out of his lead backs in the passing game. It remains to be seen if the new OC Mike McCoy can be as imaginative with RB route design. He has no positive history in this area.

3

Ezekiel Elliott

DAL

8

Zeke’s the total package. He runs it like a monster but he’s also one of the best blockers you will ever find at the position, and, this year, I think we see a bump in his receiving totals. He’s got a better shot at being the overall RB1 than folks think—even in PPR scoring. The Dallas OL is strong and Zeke’s their best offensive player who isn’t a lineman. He’s going to touch the ball a ton. It doesn’t hurt that he’s coming off of a low volume year due to missing six games via suspension.

4

Le’Veon Bell

PIT

7

He’s a proven heavy lifter for fantasy purposes, but there are some concerns if you are thinking about taking him ahead of Gurley or Elliott. First, you have the holdout, which probably doesn’t last into the season, but will effect what kind of football shape Bell is in, but there’s a bigger concern. It’s one thing to hold out when you know the scheme cold, but the Steelers changed OCs this offseason. Todd Haley is out and Randy Fichtner is in. Fichtner, who predates Haley in the Steel City, will bring a degree of continuity, but if you think he’s not making some changes, you are kidding yourself. Bell will be a bit behind on the changes. Not a huge deal, but it could impact him early on. The bigger concern is the Peter Principle. Fichtner is at a new level. While he could be the next great thing, he could also be gone quickly. We just don’t know yet. Mike Tomlin is a big picture guy and a defensive coach at his core. This will be Fichtner’s show for the most part. So while Bell is a great talent—worthy of a high pick, he’s also got some shifting ground under his feet. I’m not taking him over Gurley or Elliott.

5

Kareem Hunt

KC

12

If not for some skittish usage by Andy Reid and company, I’d be all-in on Hunt this year. There was a seven game stretch right in the heart of the season, where Hunt’s workload dried up. The playing time was there, but not the touches. My guess is that it’s not a huge concern. If we can assume that we won’t see a similar pattern in 2018, Hunt could easily be undervalued as a late first round pick. If we see a repeat, he’s still a pretty solid pick.

6

Leonard Fournette

JAX

9

The temptation with Fournette is to buy in and expect a huge 2018. There are plenty of reasons why this could happen. It’s certainly within his reasonable range of outcomes. Just understand that he’s got some injury concerns that date back to college. To me, a repeat of 2017 is just as likely as a big step forward. As for the injuries, this is a guy who only played 7 games at LSU in 2016. Then he misses three as a rookie in Jacksonville due to ankle and quad injuries. He has the feel of a guy who will get some ankle stuff and when it happens, it’ll linger longer than with most. The good news is that he’s a power back in a power scheme with a defense that will keep getting the ball back for him. I’m comfy with Fournette near the first turn, which is right about where he’s being taken. I’m not reaching for him, but in that 11-14 range, I’ll consider adding some shares.

7

Alvin Kamara

NO

6

I’ve definitely gained a measure of respect for Kamara, who I probably undersold a bit last year. He landed in his absolute dream scheme with Payton and Brees. While I have some mild concerns about Kamara’s life after Brees, who turns 40 in January, he’s on very solid ground for 2018. He’ll be the unchallenged lead back while Mark Ingram serves his four game suspension and should outperform Ingram all year. The key thing to grasp, in my view, is that the Saints use their backs so often, that a good player like Kamara can get a game’s worth of touches while only playing 50-60 percent of the snaps. I wouldn’t worry about Ingram too much. In the same vein, Ingram can still get enough action to be a good RB2 once he returns.

8

Melvin Gordon

LAC

8

Gordon’s a true workhorse and I see no reason why that should change in 2018. At some point, the workloads will catch up to him, but that’s a dynasty owner’s concern. Draft him with confidence anywhere from mid round one on. He’s good in all types of scoring,

9

Saquon Barkley

NYG

9

Spin the wheel, win a prize. I have a lot of love for this kid’s talent, but to buy into him as a fantasy monster requires a few leaps of faith. The first is buying into Barkley as a NFL back. That’s easy. I’m in. The second requires trust in the Giants new braintrust. That one’s a bit tougher. There’s a traditionalist streak in the building and for Barkley to truly explode as a fantasy asset, he needs a forward thinking OC, like Bruce Arians or Sean Payton among others. If Barkley gets a traditional NFL RB workload. He’ll be good as a rookie. If the Giants do all they can to unlock his entire skill set, then he could be a star from the first play. Obviously there’s some space between the two scenarios, but to me, this is the key question for those wondering what his true rookie range of outcomes is. To me, the cost the Giants incurred by drafting Barkley all but assures a big workload, and that makes him a legit round one option for fantasy leagues. In PPR this guy has the upside to be the RB1—IF the Giants use him to the max and it clicks. This guy is another David Johnson is terms of how broad his skill set is.

10

Christian McCaffrey

CAR

4

Liking him quite a bit this year. Whether you love Norv Turner, or hate him like I do, he has some strengths, and the screen game is one of them. I expect improvement from Cam Newton with some of the little things. I expect similar receiving production from McCaffrey, but with a significant bump in carries—including carries near the stripe. He’s a potential league-winner if he slips to the third round in a full PPR format.

11

Howard, Jordan

CHI

5

Always an underrated talent. Don’t get me wrong, I love Tarik Cohen. I actually drafted him in rookie drafts last year before he was a name. Just be careful when you start extrapolating his game into unreasonable levels of volume. Cohen is 179 pounds. Carry volume is his enemy, not his friend. Ideal usage for him would be 12-15 touches per game and the more of those touches they can get him in the pass game, the better. Enter Howard, who is a punishing runner who can also rip off big runs. This is a really good backfield combo and both players should touch the football often. With this offense on the rise overall, I expect Howard’s goal line opportunities to increase.

12

Dalvin Cook

MIN

10

He’s overpriced right now. I’m just not comfortable taking a guy this high (early round two) when he’s coming off of an ACL. It’s not insane, but you are buying him close to his ceiling. I can think of a few reasons why Minny might not overwork Cook. The biggest one is that they are a team built to go deep into the playoffs, and Cook’s a big part of the plan. Latavius Murray will be a strong candidate for clock killing duty and should mix in on early downs on a fairly regular basis. My guess is a 65/35 share in Cook’s favor—assuming Cook’s knee comes back as expected. Part of this outlook leans on Minnesota playing in a lot of “good” game scripts.

13

Mixon, Joe

CIN

9

The good for Joe Mixon, is that he’s a big three down back with some genuinely stunning skills. The bad news is that the Bengals have two other highly talented backs on the team in Gio Bernard and rookie Mark Walton. Both are capable of stealing receptions/targets from Mixon. Will they turn him into Alex Collins? I doubt it, but Mixon cannot afford to be lacking in passing situations or he’ll lose reps. In leagues that reward receptions heavily, this is a concern. The early retursn from preseason Week 1 were very good. Mixon was used on the outside as a receiver and posted a highlight reel score. That momentum and preview of potential usage is a very good sign. Mixon is costly enough to be risky, but he’s got a league-winning ceiling. I’m definitely interested near the round 2/3 turn. I’v ebumped him up a few slots. If the Bengals deal Gio to a RB needy team, then I am really going to lean in.

14

Devonta Freeman

ATL

8

I’m a big fan of Devonta Freeman. If you’re a long time Rotobahner, you know this. The thing is, I’m also pretty enamored with Tevin Coleman, who has been impressive in the time he’s been given. Freeman’s contract and lead role has made him the perceived back to own, but I’m not so sure. I think Coleman could take this gig and flip the script at some point. Or, perhaps, he could just gain even footing with Freeman for a time. The bottom line is that Freeman is unlikely to see a lion’s share with Coleman healthy. He’s a proven commodity, but unless Atlanta’s offense explodes, he’s not a guy with much ceiling—a strong RB2.

15

Drake, Kenyan

MIA

11

I am loving Frank Gore right now. Kallen Ballage is helping a bit too. The idea that either one of these guys is going to kill Drake’s value is almost laughable to me. Will Gore play some? I hope so, because one thing Drake’s never done is handle a lead back load. He had a TOTAL of 233 carries in four years at Alabama. That said, the back who Miami wants on the field HAS to be Drake. He’s explosive and he’s explosive as a runner and as a receiver—a true dual threat. Gore is a plodder and Ballage is a green tweener. Drake’s time is right now. Don’t expect a RB1 workload, though it’s not out of the equation, just expect solid RB2 results. I’m buying without hesitation at his current ADP, which is late round three to mid round four, thank you Gore.

16

Collins, Alex

BAL

10

Here’s a player I underestimated from a fantasy standpoint. Collins was always a strong sustaining runner with some attitude and a lust for contact. We knew that, but he showed a bit more big play ability than I thought he’d bring to NFL ball. He’s still a somewhat vulnerable long term asset, as Alf Morris once was, but a solid early down role in 2018 seems locked in. He’s a safe RB2 option, especially in non-PPR.

17

Ajayi, Jay

PHI

9

You want a league winner in round 3-5? Ajayi could be your man. Sure, he wasn’t a volume guy in Philly last year and sure, he’s got a knee condition that could worsen over time. The thing is, we only need one season out of him, and based on what we’ve seen, that’s not a stretch. So, you have a good back in a great situation and no other alpha talents to usurp him. He won’t get a Gurley/Bell/Elliott workload, but I strongly suspect that he’ll get a solid increase from what we saw in 2017 on a per game basis. To me, the upside is well worth the risks at his current ADP. To me, he’s a viable option starting in late round two, but you can obviously get him later.

18

McKinnon, Jerick

SF

11

He’s justifiably polarizing, because he’s never done it, but if you want to have him on your fantasy team, you’ll have to pay like he has. Veteran fantasy GMs know all about the potential of a lead back in the Shanahan/Kubiak scheme. McKinnon is slated for that gig in 2018. Rotobahner’s also know how much Coach Turner and I have always liked McKinnon. I’m definitely willing to draft him, but I’m not reaching as high as some folks seem willing to reach (early 2nd round) because he’s not yet a proven volume runner. He has upside and risk in nearly equal measures. So don’t be afraid on J-Mac, but stay sober with your expectations and try to let him fall to you. I’ve downgraded him just a touch in light of his muscle strain near his knee. It’s good news considering the initial reports, but it increases his odds of tweaking it going forward.

19

Ingram, Mark

NO

6

For the fantasy shopper with discerning tastes, I offer you one of the more compelling bargains available to you this season. It’s never fun to draft the less sexy back in a two back rotation, but in Ingram’s case, I’ll gladly make an exception, because I can get a solid or perhaps even high-end RB2 at RB3 prices. Yes, I will have to wait out his 4-game suspension, but this guy was a RB1 last year and he has plenty of tread left on his tires.

20

Miller, Lamar

HOU

10

Game flow. It’s so much about that for Miller. When things are going good for Houston, they will go well for Miller. So do you buy into Deshaun Watson staying healthy? If you do, then Miller is a solid mid-round value. I’ve landed him as late as round seven in best ball drafts. That could end up being straight theft. Most of the recent drafts I have been in have Miller going in the fifth round somewhere, which is still good money if you need an RB at that stage.

21

McCoy, LeSean

BUF

11

Let somebody else deal with Shady. I was concerned about him hitting the age wall anyway and he’s on an awful team for the near term. As talented as he is, he will be the absolute focal point for every defense he faces this season, and that’s if he plays at all. If this situation with his ex-girlfriend is anything close to what it looks like, he’s done, and who’d want him on their team anyway? None for me, thanks.

22

Freeman, Royce

DEN

10

I’ve been a Freeman fan for years, but I’m a bit surprised that Devontae Booker is being cast aside so easily by so many pundits. Freeman has some nice three down skills, but a typical rookie curve would not surprise me. Meanwhile, there are plenty of talented backs in this backfield. If you draft early, I’d be careful not to reach too far for Freeman until he’s named starter. He’s definitely looking good so far. If I could only have one Denver back, it would definitely be him, but it’s all about what you have to pay.

23

Henry, Derrick

TEN

8

I have to say that I found it strange that Tennessee spent so much on Dion Lewis. I expected Henry to get a crack at a volume role this season, but now it appears that Henry is still stuck in committee to some extent. That’s the bad news. The good news is that Henry will now cost you a lot less than he would have before. I also can’t help but think that the younger bigger more durable back will get the bigger share of the snaps, touches and goal line. I think he still sports a RB1 ceiling and should safely return RB2 value. That makes him a solid buy at his RB2 ADP.

24

Michel, Sony

NE

11

So much going on when it comes to Sony’s 2018 valuation. You have NE’s history of using three backs. You have Burkhead back and he’s capable of stealing goal line work as is James White. Still, when you look at what NE paid to get Michel and the fact that they allowed Dion Lewis to walk, you have to assume that they WANT Michel to play, and play quite a bit. He and Burkhead could both score ten times if they both stay healthy. Not kidding.

25

Burkhead, Rex

NE

11

He’s got hidden upside because he could score a ton of times if Sony Michel struggles or has ball security issues. Even if Michael is all that, he won’t touch what Burkhead can do in terms of routes. The Pats will play 2-3 backs each week and Rex will be in that rotation unless he’s hurt.

26

Coleman, Tevin

ATL

8

I’m definitely targeting Coleman in drafts this year. He’s a great option if you are chasing RBs in the middle rounds. He becomes viable in or around the middle of round five, but he can often be had in the sixth. You are paying about a round over his floor, but he’s a guy who could explode if Devonta Freeman misses time and I expect him to have his biggest year to date no matter what Freeman’s status is. One interesting nugget with this backfield — Freeman and Coleman played snaps together every week in 2017—assuming both backs played. It’s a lineup that could gain some steam this year as Coleman has more route ability than the average back. He can run vertical routes from the slot and he runs a decent slant if you can believe it. He’s a legit chess piece. It’s also worth noting that Coleman has increased his carry total substantially every season. I think he has an outside shot at 200 carries if he plays 16 games.

27

Lynch, Marshawn

OAK

7

Lynch didn’t embarrass himself in 2017. He ran pretty well, but he was far from BEAST-MODE. Maybe he could flourish if the Raiders take off and get him more goal line chances. I also think he’s a better player when he’s amped up and playing in bigger games. It’s just my gut, but I think Lynch is only as good as the Raiders. If you believe in Gruden, then Lynch makes sense. He’s shaping up as a potential vaue in the middle rounds.

28

Lewis, Dion

TEN

8

I’m a big fan of Dion as many of you know, but I am leaning to the younger bigger half of the Titans’ RB pairing.

29

Williams, Jamaal

GB

7

I’m not targeting Williams because I feel like he’s the worst value in the GB backfield—meaning he costs the most. I also feel like there’s a good chance that he could be the odd man out if both Ty Montgomery and Aaron Jones stay healthy. All that said, any of these three backs can be fantasy assets if they get the volume.

30

Barber, Peyton

TB

5

I’m a big fan of Barber. One of the more underrated talents around, but they drafted Ronald Jones high enough where caution is recommended with Barber. Even if your a non-believer when it comes to Jones, don’t reach for Barber too much. My feel is that he’ll need a Jones injury to pay off large. Of course, Jones is smallish, a rookie and he had a hammy at the combine. Barber makes a very nice deep flier.

31

Mack, Marlon

IND

9

He’s a potential home run ball. There’s no doubt that Mack can be exciting and if the Colts offense returns to form with Andrew Luck under center, there could be more running room for Mack this year. Still, there are concerns. Mack only played 310 snaps last season. He did have a shoulder injury early on which cost him some time, but based on how much he was playing, that only cost him about 30-40 total snaps. Robert Turbin was lost early on so Mack had an open lane for playing time on a team with zero playoff hopes. Still, he was not given much time. It’s a potential tell. He’s also nursing a hamstriing injury that could keep him off the field for the preseason—helping the rookies to get more snaps with the first team.

32

Johnson, Kerryon

DET

6

This is a tough one because I like all of the Detroit RBs in one way or another. The bottom like is that the depth is a problem for all of these guys. Blount could be a TD vulture and Riddick/Abdullah are fantastic in passing situations. Johnson has three down ability and has the look of a back who can handle volume, but there’s so much that could go wrong if you are hoping for solid RB2 production in 2018. He COULD be great, but he’d have to force a lot of talent off the field. That’s a much more likely scenario next year with Blount getting older and Abdullah finding a new home as a free agent.

33

Hyde, Carlos

CLE

11

Still a back I like, but he needs to find a good home. Cleveland looks like a 1-year pit stop and he’s got two really good runners to compete with in Duke Johnson and Nick “I think it moved” Chubb. It feels like a team that will have three fantasy RB3s.

34

Crowell, Isaiah

NYJ

11

I’m doing a full re-write on Crowell’s blurb because things have changed a bit in Jetsland. First off, Elijah McGuire has a broken foot. That should mean more snaps for Crowell and Powell. Second, the Jets QBs looked so good in the opener, that I am more hopeful for the Jets offense despite the weak OL. Third, Crowell looked good catching the ball in preseason Week 1. The Jets sure look like they want to use him more that way. I’m keeping an open mind here. Crowell could be a better value in PPR and .5 PPR than I initially gave him credit for. He looks lighter than he did in Cleveland. That would be a very good sign. The best Crowell I have ever seen was when he was lightest and that was back in his freshman season at Georgia, before he transferred.

35

Penny, Rashaad

SEA

7

Penny is the guy in Seattle … unless he blows it. There’s no doubt that he’s in the driver’s seat, but it’s probably a good idea to remember recent history and how schizophrenic Pete Carroll has been with his running backs. In short, what this guy says means close to nothing. Penny’s at the top right now, but Carroll has professed his love for every other back on the roster at one time or another. If Penny is getting blown up in pass pro, which is likely, they have other backs who can get that job done. That could cost the rookie snaps, especially early on. This is a player/situation to watch closely in August. Penny has a lot of juju, but he’s raw in terms of doing the little things.

36

Cohen, Tarik

CHI

5

He’s the real deal—a modern day Warrick Dunn with emphasis on modern. I expect Cohen to catch more passes while receiving fewer carries. In the end, look for roughly 130 carries and 70 receptions. That puts Cohen in the RB2 discussion in 12-team PPR leagues.

37

Jones, Aaron

GB

7

Jones, by my eyes, is the one back who could really take over the Packer’s backfield, but he’s got a few concerns. First off, the competition is legit. Both Ty Montgomery and Jamaal Williams have game. Second, Jones is suspended for the first two games of the year. That means that both Williams and Montgomery will have multiple chances to steal this gig or at least slow Jones’ roll upon his return. I’m looking to draft Jones, but I want him to fall to me. I’m not going to reach for him. Round eight or later.

38

Carson, Chris

SEA

7

The opposite of Penny. Carson is a worker—a grinder, but he has some play-making ability too. He’s running with the starters now and with Penny’s broken finger, he should be the Week 1 starter. I do not buy into Carson as a long term threat to Penny or even a healthy Prosise, but they like him, he’s a solid back, and he’s currently in the driver’s seat.

39

Chubb, Nick

CLE

11

Offer me Chubb or Hyde and I am taking Chubb every time, but with Duke Johnson AND Hyde around, this is one crowded backfield. Chubb’s going to be a beast, but when the number of the beast is going to be called is anybody’s guess.

40

Peterson, Adrian

WAS

4

He could be a real value but he’s not very diverse at this point in his career and he’s always been mediocre in the pass game. That’s a significant issue in this offense. He’s going to have Isaiah Crowell value if he is in shape and ready to go. I may bump him up next week if all signs are positive.

41

Jones, Ronald

TB

5

I’m not the kind of guy who buys lottery tickets in real life, but in fantasy football, I will indulge at times. Jones gets some grief for not doing the little things well, but when I watch his game film, I see a player who can contribute right away—perhaps like Alvin Kamara did in 2017.

42

Thompson, Chris

WAS

4

His role should be a bit smaller with Guice in town, but Thompson can still make a positive impact in deeper PPR leagues. The loss of Guice should help him, but word is that he’s still a ways away from being 100 percent.

43

Johnson, Duke

CLE

11

He’s going to be a complementary piece paired with a big back. He’ll have some PPR appeal, but the acquisition of Jarvis Landry puts the kibosh on Duke’s slot activities. He’s got the talent to be a lead dog, but I just don’t see enough oxygen for him in Cleveland right now.

44

Anderson, C.J.

CAR

4

CJ’s a polarizing player. I’m between the extremes on him. He’s a good solid back who can play on all downs. He’s a solid complement to McCaffrey, but that’s what he is. He’s not taking this gig or playing a ton of snaps. He’s a RB3 for fantasy purposes unless McCaffrey gets hurt.

45

Clement, Corey

PHI

9

He was better than I anticipated last year. I underestimated this kid and he looks like a solid handcuff for Ajayi owners in deeper formats where handcuffing makes sense. Clement could also have some stand-alone value because this is such an explosive offense and they tend to feature multiple backs near the stripe.

46

Montgomery, Ty

GB

7

He’s definitely a good sleeper in PPR formats. The GB backs are tough because they are all good. Heavy volume seems unlikely for any of the three primary guys. If injuries happen, then one or two of them can move up the ranks fast.

47

Martin, Doug

OAK

7

He’s a lottery ticket who could certainly pay off, but Oakland has a lot of backs including Marshawn, so don’t put too many chips in Martin’s basket.

48

Powell, Bilal

NYJ

11

Once again, the Jets seem disinclined to play their best running back. And, once again, Powell will probably force his way into the mix. This backfield feels like a three-headed mess that’s best avoided.

49

Breida, Matt

SF

11

His performance as a rookie doesn’t jump off the page, but he’s clearly a favorite of the coaching staff and is currently in the two slot on the 49ers’ depth chart. Breida is a good natural runner whose abilities mesh well with Shanahan’s scheme. He’s not a side to side runner. He’s decisive. The biggest concern for Breida is his lack of size.

50

Booker, Devontae

DEN

10

Royce Freeman looked damn good in his brief stint in preseason Week 1, but Booker’s role should be pretty significant for a while if not all season.

51

Wilkins, Jordan

IND

9

With Hines’ struggles, I am bumping Wilkins up a bit. If he looks good in Week 3 preseason, he could move up more.

52

Murray, Latavius

MIN

10

He is a very good handcuff option, because this offense will move the ball. If Cook goes down again, the goal line chances will be plentiful for Murray.

53

White, James

NE

11

He’s a nice best ball option and he’ll play his usual role, but knowing when to start him can be a tricky proposition.

54

Yeldon, T.J.

JAX

9

He’s a good back stuck behind a batter one. Yeldon will probably have a bigger role next year as he is a free agent, but fr now, he’s the best handcuff option for Fournette owners. The thing is, he will probably be in some type of time share with Corey Grant in that scenario, so don’t sell out to get him. Just let one of them fall to you—if you want to handcuff that is.

55

Riddick, Theo

DET

6

I’m a bit skeptical about Riddisk’s role. I think he’ll still be the dedicated 2-minute guy, but it’s a deeper backfield now and both Johnson and Abdullah could cut into his role.

56

Conner, James

PIT

7

The handcuff for Bell and that’s big right now—with Bell not in camp.

57

Gore, Frank

MIA

11

He’ll be solid, but I think this is the Kenyan Drake show in 2018.

58

Blount, LeGarrette

DET

6

Hard to see him playing a major role in such a crowded backfield. That said, some touchdowns are definitely possible.

59

Allen, Javorius

BAL

10

Allen is a pain in your fantasy posterior. He never gets enough but he manages to vulture enough stats to annoy you if you own one of the other Raven backs. He’s a deep league option right now, and not an exciting one.

60

Perine, Samaje

WAS

4

He gets a big bump on my board with Guice going down. Rob Klley is a concern and so is Byron marshall. Additionally, you will have Chris Thompson taking snaps in passing situations once he is healthy. Still, Perine is my bet to return the most value in this backfield. I’m targeting him late for now because there’s still a threat of a trade. The longer Washington stands pat, the more I want to add Perine in drafts. He is very underrated in my view. People are putting too much stock in a mediocre rookie season.

61

Bernard, Giovani

CIN

9

Some very smart analysts think he’s a value. He definitely has a chance, because he’s a good player, but I’m not sure the payoff is likely.

62

Grant, Corey

JAX

9

I love Grant, and I think he’ll continue to gain momentum, but his ceiling is obviously capped as long as Fournette is healthy.

63

Hill, Jeremy

NE

11

He looked very good in preseason Week 1, but he’s still caught in a very deep backfield so don’t go too crazy just yet. If we gets bad news on Sony Michel, then I may start targeting Hill.

64

Hines, Nyheim

IND

9

He’s not going to be a volume guy, at least not right away, but there is plenty of opportunity in Indy, and Hines is a tough competitor with mad speed. I love him on the turf in Indy—paired with a healthy Andrew Luck. They are using him all over the formation according to the beat guys. *** UPDAT*** I still believe in all the good stuff we saw in Hines’ college film, but right now he is going through some fumbl-itis, so his redraft value is rightfully in freefall. I’m still targting him, but much later than I was going into preseason. There’s still a lot of oxygen in the backfield and he could find himself once he gets settled in.

65

Foreman, D'Onta

HOU

10

Still on the PUP list so hard to tell what he’ll be able to do early in the season. If he comes back close to 100 percent, he could become a fantasy factor or at least a vulture for Lamar Miller owners.

66

Ekeler, Austin

LAC

8

He’s the best bet to be a handcuff to Gordon, and they do get him touches when Gordon is healthy.

67

Edmonds, Chase

ARI

9

He’s the guy to draft if you are looking to handcuff David Johnson.

68

Kelly, John

LAR

12

LOVE his talent and skill set, but Gurley is obviously a huge problem. That said, if you want a handcuff, Kelly is my choice with a nod as well to Malcom Brown.

69

Scott, Boston

NO

6

He’s one of my personal sleepers and I think he could have a strong early season run while Mark Ingram is out. If there’s an injury to either Ingram or Kamara, then Scott could be huge in the Saints’ scheme. He’s versatile and dynamic and could be a smaller quicker version of Kamara.

70

Dixon, Kenneth

BAL

10

I’ve always liked his talent, but injuries and PED problems have blunted his early career momentum. He’s got Alex Collins to deal with on early downs and Javorius Allen on passing downs. Dixon may have the most talent of the three, but he’s also been the least available. Early season buzz means more with Dixon than most. If he looks like himself in preseason games, he’ll rise up my board some.

71

Prosise, C.J.

SEA

7

He’s still a huge talent, but he’s been hurt for the bulk of his career to date. So much so that Seattle has drafted another RB to take his place. This does little to diminish CJ’s long term value, which is more about health than short term depth chart concerns, but it definitely hurts his value for 2018. CJ is a name to know and maybe a back to draft in certain large formats. If he can stay healthy for a spell, he could become a compelling long play in dynasty.

72

Gallman, Wayne

NYG

9

73

Abdullah, Ameer

DET

6

74

Williams, Jonathan

NO

6

Could have a role early in Ingram’s absence. There’s some talent here.

75

Samuels, Jaylen

PIT

7

76

Ware, Spencer

KC

12

77

Damien Williams

KC

12

78

Stewart, Jonathan

NYG

9

79

Ivory, Chris

BUF

11

As of now, he’s a potential steal, but be realistic. He’s never handled volume well and has a limited skill set. Still, in a non-full-PPR format, he’ll have early season value—assuming LeSean McCoy is done, as it appears he could be.

80

McGuire, Elijah

NYJ

11

81

Michael, Christine

IND

9

82

Sproles, Darren

PHI

9

83

Rob Kelley

WAS

4

84

McNichols, Jeremy

SF

11

85

Alfred Blue

HOU

10

86

Smith, Rod

DAL

8

My current bet to be the most valuable Cowboys back behind Elliott in 2018, but this bears watching because rookie Bo Scarbrough could create a camp battle with strong play.

87

Williams, Joe

SF

11

Williams is an odd case, because he gets treated like a bust when his rookie season never got off the ground due to an ankle injury.

88

Henderson, De'Angelo

DEN

10

89

Ballage, Kalen

MIA

11

90

Mike Davis

SEA

7

91

Walton, Mark

CIN

9

Should be in a deep reserve role as a rookie, but he’s got some legit talent.

92

Jackson, Justin

LAC

8

93

Scarbrough, Bo

DAL

8

A guy to watch in camp. My money is on Rod Smith as the best way to handcuff Zeke Elliott, but Scarbrough has some talent and could certainly be effective running behind the Cowboys’ talent OL.

94

Richard, Jalen

OAK

7

95

Washington, DeAndre

OAK

7

96

Chris Warren

OAK

7

97

Jacquizz Rodgers

TB

5

98

Gillislee, Mike

NE

11

99

Juszczyk, Kyle

SF

11

100

Phillip Lindsay

DEN

10

101

Wendell Smallwood

PHI

9

102

Artis-Payne, Cameron

CAR

4

103

Marcus Murphy

BUF

11

104

Benny Cunningham

CHI

5

105

Robert Turbin

IND

9

106

Brown, Malcolm

LAR

12

107

Thomas Rawls

NYJ

11

108

Roc Thomas

MIN

10

109

Wadley, Akrum

TEN

8

110

Raheem Mostert

SF

11

111

T.J Logan

ARI

9

112

Smith, Ito

ATL

8

113

Trenton Cannon

NYJ

11

114

Shane Vereen

NO

6

115

Travaris Cadet

BUF

11

116

McKissic, J.D.

SEA

7

117

Matt Dayes

CLE

11

118

Charcandrick West

NYJ

11

119

Byron Marshall

WAS

4

120

Darrel Williams

KC

12

121

Matt Jones

PHI

9

122

Zach Zenner

DET

6

123

Kerwynn Williams

KC

12

124

Josh Adams

PHI

9

125

Donnel Pumphrey

PHI

9

126

Martez Carter

WAS

4

127

Sims, Charles

TB

5

IR

128

Penny, Elijhaa

ARI

9

129

DJ Foster

ARI

9

ACL/IR

130

Guice, Derrius

WAS

4

I love Guice as a prospect and I think he’ll be the back to own in Washington with all things equal. Of course, he also costs the most by far, and the question is, do you want to pay the going rate? ***ACL/IR****